JOHNSTON, Iowa — We would like to congratulate fellow farmer Annette Sweeney on her appointment by President Trump as Iowa Rural Development Director. Annette has served for many years on the Iowa Corn Animal Agriculture and the Environment Committee and has been an active member with our organization advocating on water quality and animal agriculture issues. As a former Iowa State Representative from 2009 to 2012 and Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, she brings a broad cross section of leadership experience to her new role.
Raised on her family’s farm near Buckeye, Iowa, Annette pursued a teaching career at Concordia Lutheran in Peoria, Illinois after graduating from Radcliffe Community School and Concordia University. Due to the untimely death of her father, Annette came home to manage the family’s row crop and purebred cow/calf operation along with her mother and sister. Today, she continues to operate the family farm where she grew up along with her husband Dave and two sons, Jim and Joe.
Annette’s appointment comes at a time when the downturn of the farm economy can be felt throughout Iowa’s rural communities. Her agricultural background will serve her well in this role and we look forward to her leadership.
— The Iowa Corn Growers Association
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